My View: Remember injustice, focus on good

Saturday

Mar 29, 2014 at 7:30 PM

The organization I am privileged to lead, the Chabad Community Center, will be hosting a one-of-a-kind event Sunday. Dan Alon, an Israeli fencing champion, will be addressing us right here in Rockford for the very first time.

I wouldn’t want to disappoint the sport-minded among us, but this talk is not really about competitive fencing. Dan Alon was one of the only survivors of the murderous terrorist attack that claimed the lives of 11 Israeli team members at the 1972 Olympics in Munich, and he will be sharing the story of his miraculous escape and the challenge a young traumatized athlete faced as he moved on.

I can almost hear the unspoken question, the quizzical expression appearing on many faces: what’s the big deal? 42 years have gone by, and while the story is undoubtedly fascinating, nothing short of a real-life thriller, do we really need to gather together to discuss it? Do we not have more contemporary issues to work out?

Many among us can answer this question. Multiple correct approaches are united by a common appreciation for the importance of reliving the injustices of the past. Reliving injustice is done to ensure that history does not repeat itself and to honor the memory of the victims. The importance of these practices cannot be understated.

The moral obligation to stand with Israel, a democratic and peace-loving people forever beleaguered and threatened with annihilation, is more relevant than ever. Contributing to the ultimate quest for world peace is our collective and individual responsibility. Yet, I find myself focusing on another element of the saga, which is all too often overlooked.

The Lubavitcher Rebbe, Rabbi Menachem Schneerson, my teacher and mentor, inspired our organization to be established and often stressed that the ultimate response to tragedy is to increase and support all forms of positivity, goodness and kindness. The true victory over the dark chapters of history, chief among them the holocaust, lies in summoning the G-d-given strength to move forward.

Dan Alon is a man who encountered death at the age of 27 and saw his teammates abducted and eventually murdered. However, instead of succumbing to despair and wallowing in helplessness, he found the courage to move on. Dan acknowledges having been traumatized by his experience, but he forged ahead nevertheless, established a family and went on to lead a life of peace, goodness and kindness. The true challenge of survival is not merely to survive but to thrive — to emerge stronger and more committed and to inspire others to do the same.

This, in my opinion, is the take-home message for each and every human being. Our deeds are powerful. Some choose to use that power to wreak tremendous destruction and devastation, but within our psyche lies a far greater force — the capability to respond to darkness with light and to overcome tragedy by spreading goodness all around us. Let us each do our part, and then the world as a whole will become a much better place.

Join us as Dan Alon shares his fascinating story Sunday, March 30th, at 2:30 p.m. at the Riverfront Museum Park building, 711 N. Main St., in downtown Rockford. For more information, visit ChabadRockford.com/events or call 815.596.0032

Rabbi Chesky and Miri Rothman have established the Chabad Community Center serving Rockford and Northern Illinois. Chabad is a non-profit community organization to assist and befriend the community.